The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-02
COZ. $. ID. M'ENERF.
A Strong Ar-aignment of the Refors

COZ. $. ID. M'ENERY.
A Strong Ar-signnent Of the Refor,ners.
Amid spontaneous cheers the Governor
arose and walked to the front of the plat
form after several moments, which was con-
sumed in applause and passing bouquets to
the Governor
| had occasion, on the 18Th of October, to
address the Democracy OF Ou&chita and sd-
Joining parishes. In that speech. ATTEMPTED
to show the fallacy of the arguments OF the
reform party in. this State, which are based
solely on one issue-the personal appoint
ment3 Of the present Executive Of the State
OF Louisiana. The facts were stated; the
record is accessible to the reform orators and
il misstated their case, the facts are easily
controverted.
In the eagerness of their zeal, and in the
enthusiasm of their arguments, they forget
| to examine each c:se as it is presented. AS
one sta tement is shown to be without founda-
ton, they select another, and are equally un-
fortunate, as in the ease of their manned
Confederate soldier Of Vim, who lost his
limb, not in any of tho great battles, but iu
q saw-lniU somewhere in his native parish.
| But sy1npathize with him in his sutterngs
as much AZ though he had been manned on
some historic field. Charity in its sympathy
| forgets The cause of misfortune. But it SO
happens that | never removed him from
Oliice ne nati Decn appointed aSsessOr by
Gov. Nichols. but was removed, or failed to
| be reappointed, by Gov. Wilt, for cause.
| And II 10 said by one Of their reform speak
ers thft neglected and refused to approve
ever passed the General Assembly, notwith-
standing my recommendation to that effect.
| Another reform orator declares, and he
| vehemently yoUches Tor the truth Of his
statement. that 'bill was presented to Nc
| Emery asking that convict labor lie not 81
| lowed outside of the Penitentiary walls!
| Delegates OF laboring men urged its passage!
| The Governor did not sign jt!'
| This, like the other statements OF the re-
| form orators, Is
| PURE AND UNADULTERATED FICTION.
No such bill ever passed.
| And the same orator said that had driven
away the commerce of New Orleans, reduced
henchmon, ard given, to his tmy) brother
| by fraudulently signed bill, an entire par
| ish in q political division of spoiIs. and this
at the expense of education, the police force
and improvements generally"
Here il q reform orator who does not know
the alphabe. OF the political divisions OF the
State, who is ignorant of the current events
in the State, but who is, gifted with an mag
ination lu1uriantiy wild.
Such statements are unworthy OF note and
would not be referred to were they not fair
exponents OF the arguments and policy OF
the present reform campaign.
Exception is nov taken by the Ireformers
to the name which they gave themselves
veteran Democracy. If it has become dis
tasteful to them, We are not to blame Tor
calling them by their own chosen baptismsl
name. II is their privilege and prerogatiye
to take q new one. This opposition to the
Democratic party has already masqneraded
under different names-the unltication par
ty, the Peoples psrty, and the like; al of
which have been in my recollection and in
regent years.
paign has been SO much discussed that pre-
sumo you are familiar with it. 1t was 3 de-
liberats attempt to form new party-a re-
form party. Gov. Nichols Was induced 10
give to it the. prestige Of his name and the
correspondence which occurred between this
reform party and the regular Democra tic
party will show ccnclusively that the reform
party resisted every overture made by the
Democracy to heal differences and to restore
harmony. The reiormers were confident OF
success and, i'll the language Of Gov. Mich
oils, it prlt is foot On rsscals and appealed to
the people. Some OF these rascalS--the real
living ,personaaes who secured the nomlna-
ton OF 81. Martin-sre TefOrnlers nov; be-
lleylng now, l presume, AZ tho reforners
believed then, that this new party is an I'M
pregnable fortress in which all shades Of
political faith, and all hues of color, can
shelter themselves IL peace, in harmony, and
with prospects, Of Office and dispcnsation Of
patronage The same leaders in the Hunt
movement. with the accession CT those who
have been denominated ragcals by Gen. Mich.
Oils, are now the head and front OF the re-
form movement.
But ssyo one OF the reform orators, en-.
, deavored to read them out of the party al
Monroe. l spoke to stalwart Democrats in
that section OF North Louisiana, ind
IN BEHALF OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
, endeavored to bring back the eIring to the
fnlI IA ,SS Jnr
harsh terms. The rank and tlle-the hare
workers and fighters Of the party -remain true
and steediast TO its time-honored principles
, and usages, and Will not desert its victorious
flag, however sweet the siren song OF reform
and alturin9 the name Of reformer may be tt
the ears of those who baptized the new borr
political party and wrapped it i'll its swaddline
clothes.
Not one word WAS said ty me to indicate
, that the support OF myself for the position Of
Governor was requisite to constitute ar I'll
legisn,e 20 the party. On the contrary. thi.
! was the complaint l urged against the re
formers: and | quoted from the speech q
hsr eh9ien , Leader F,d bs which he a id H.
officials Of the State into two absolutely dis
Q tinct classes. the one to which he belongs
= including in it some of the pureat ana bes
men Of Louisiana" the other packed body
made up of the personal political adherent
of the powers that be-"
What a severe accusation if, this against {
? large portion OF the people Of the State Q
3 Louisiana, Az who do pot follow the pnrel!
packed body, the aaherents of the presen'
8 Governor of the State Grant that wha
he says is true, that those who art
| opposing Gov. Nichols are the Office
holding class and a packed body. HOY
the offices appointed by the Governor, includ
4 ing police juries, number q force of abon
$50. Now, whom we reCol!ect that out O
: this number of oftce-holders, there are en-
tire police luIies in some parlehes and il
t others one-half and judges, and justices o
/. the peace, who have been appointed by me
and yet are the .adherents OF Gov. Nichols
it will appear ridiculous that in order to de
Q party. discipline it by clubs, instruct it b.
. pamphlets, encourage it by speeches, aTt
i, enshuse i by mass meetings, refresh it witt
music. What commentary upon the intel
/; of their courage! What lowering OF tn
: standard of morality and virtue, i'll the opin
ION OF she reformers, among our people!
But all OF these campaigners are not o
G this way OF thinking. One OF the most dis
# hnguished amoong, them, at least, ,counte
the number Of stalwart Democrats at
~ greater number, when he, as early as June
I 1855, stated to Gen. Jastremski that Mich
e oils would be the candidate, OF the opposi
: ton, sud thSt they would defeat the Stat
q dNuliuiSuDUlOl IL tusy udu W tisG jlS lit
= groes for that purpose. And this seems t
have been
THE DOMINANT IDEA OF GEN. NICHOLS,
$ when in the Hunt campaign he state
= on the very eve of the election, in publ
y address, that he would cooperate with an
party or color to defeat the ''Ringn' Is
possible that, considering the small humble
IS Of appointed white officer holders in tn
}. State, whom he classes as the only ''adhel
IS ents" of the State government, he meant t
g include in his party those who are 18th
~ purest and the best, - and this admixture O
c to summon to his st .ndard to defeat tn
) Ring" dmeaning the State administers
q tionl. And Gen Nichols course as Cox
y ernor seems to warrant the belief that he hs